impossible
/ɪmˈpɒsəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈpɑːsəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)im-ˈpä-sə-bəl/ (ame, mw) · /ɪmˈpɒs.ə.bəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈpɑː.sə.bəl/ (ame, ipa)
impossible — 形容詞
- impossiblepositive
- more impossiblecomparative
- most impossiblesuperlative
1. When an action, event, or result is described as impossible, no person or method
不可能的
無法發生或實現
When an action, event, or result is described as impossible, no person or method can make it happen, achieve it, or bring it about under any circumstances.
It is impossible for Bao to finish the report by five — he needs more data.
Bao 不可能在五點前完成報告——他還需要更多數據。
impossible for + person + to-infinitive
Greta found it impossible to sleep the night before her final exams.
Greta 發現自己在期末考前那晚根本不可能睡得著。
found it impossible to do something
Asher's dream of becoming a pilot became impossible after he failed the medical check.
Asher 在體檢沒過之後，想當飛行員的夢想就變得不可能了。
Without a reservation, getting a table at the popular restaurant is nearly impossible.
沒有訂位的話，要在那家熱門餐廳找到位子幾乎是不可能的。
Felix considered it impossible to learn Japanese in just three months.
Felix 認為要在三個月內學會日文是不可能的。
- not possible
a longer but more transparent phrase; common in spoken English
- out of the question
more informal and emphatic; suggests the idea is completely rejected
- unattainable
focuses on the goal being unreachable; narrower in scope
文法句型
it is impossible (for someone) to do something
something + linking verb + impossible
find/consider/think + something + impossible
用法筆記
Commonly appears in two main patterns: (1) 'it is impossible (for someone) to do something', where 'it' refers forward to the infinitive clause; and (2) with a linking verb ('seems', 'became', 'is') describing the subject directly. The second pattern cannot take a following infinitive without restructuring.
常見錯誤
2. When a situation, position, or task is so full of problems that handling it beco
棘手的
極難處理的（情況）
When a situation, position, or task is so full of problems that handling it becomes nearly unbearable, we describe it as impossible.
The company faced an impossible situation when the manager and accountant quit on the same day.
經理和會計同一天辭職，公司陷入了棘手的局面。
impossible situation (collocation for dilemma contexts)
Madison faced an impossible position: keep her job or move abroad with her partner.
Madison 面臨一個兩難的境地：保住工作，還是陪伴侶出國。
impossible position (forced-choice context)
Hamza faced an impossible choice: apologize for words he never said, or lose his best friend.
Hamza 面臨一個艱難的選擇：要為自己沒說過的話道歉，還是失去最好的朋友。
The rescue team faced an impossible task as the storm made the trail too dangerous to cross.
暴風雨讓山路變得太危險而無法通行，救援隊面臨一項艱鉅的任務。
- manageable
something can be handled despite difficulty
- straightforward
something is simple and easy to deal with
文法句型
an impossible + noun (situation / position / task / choice)
make + something + impossible
用法筆記
This sense modifies nouns like 'situation', 'position', 'task', and 'choice'. It does not describe a person's character (see sense 3). Unlike sense 1, this meaning does not claim that something cannot be done at all — only that the difficulty is extreme.
常見錯誤
3. Used to describe a person whose behavior is so unreasonable, stubborn, or annoyi
難搞的
難以相處的（人或行為）
Used to describe a person whose behavior is so unreasonable, stubborn, or annoying that it is nearly impossible for others to deal with or live alongside them.
Vivek's roommate is impossible — he leaves dirty dishes everywhere and never pays his bills.
Vivek 的新室友真是難搞——他到處亂放髒碗盤，而且從來不准時付帳單。
person + is impossible (describing ongoing difficult behavior)
Bao's grandfather became impossible after his illness, refusing to take any medicine the doctor prescribed.
Bao 的祖父生病之後變得很難搞，拒絕吃醫生開的任何藥。
The teenager was being impossible about the curfew, arguing with her parents for two hours.
那個青少年為了門禁時間不停跟爸媽爭吵，簡直是在找麻煩。
Lucía told her coworker he was being impossible and walked out of the meeting.
Lucía 告訴同事他是在無理取鬧，然後一句話也沒說就離開了會議室。
- unbearable
stronger; emphasizes that you cannot tolerate the person's behavior
- impossible to deal with
a slightly longer but less harsh alternative
- easygoing
someone who is relaxed and flexible
- reasonable
someone who listens to others and behaves sensibly
文法句型
someone + is + impossible
someone + is being + impossible
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2, this sense applies to people. Using 'is being impossible' (the progressive form) signals that the behavior is temporary, not a permanent personality trait. This sense is informal and should be avoided in formal or professional writing.
常見錯誤
impossible — 名詞
1. A thing or outcome that has no realistic chance of occurring or being brought ab
不可能的事
無法實現的事物
A thing or outcome that has no realistic chance of occurring or being brought about; used especially after verbs like 'do', 'achieve', or 'ask for' to stress how unlikely or unrealistic it is.
Christopher has a reputation in his research lab for regularly achieving the impossible.
Christopher 在他的研究實驗室裡以經常完成不可能的事而聞名。
achieving the impossible (noun phrase with definite article)
The manager asked for the impossible by demanding the bridge be ready in six weeks.
經理要求橋樑在六週內準備好，根本是在強人所難。
Eri believes nothing is impossible if you work hard and stay focused on your goal.
Eri 相信只要你足夠努力並專注於目標，就沒有什麼是不可能的。
Do not ask me to do the impossible — I have only one assistant.
不要叫我做不可能的事——我只有一個助理。
- impossibility
a more formal noun; 'That is an impossibility' sounds more academic than 'That's the impossible'
- pipe dream
informal; a plan or hope that is unrealistic
- possibility
something that can happen or be done
- sure thing
informal; something certain to happen
文法句型
the impossible
do / achieve / attempt / ask for the impossible
用法筆記
This noun use always takes the definite article 'the'. 'The impossible' refers to an abstract concept — a category of things that cannot be done. The expression 'nothing is impossible' is a common motivational phrase and uses 'impossible' as an adjective complement, but is included here for its similar meaning.